By Emeka Chiaghanam
Sir Jude Ezenwafor has been declared the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 8 election in Anambra State.
Ezenwafor, a real estate
developer and who ran unopposed in the primary, secured 798 "yes"
votes out of 853 accredited delegates at the party’s congress held Tuesday at
the Women’s Development Centre in Awka. Twenty-six votes were invalidated.
Cornell Onwubuya, chairman of
the Anambra PDP Governorship Election Congress Committee, announced the
results, stating that the process adhered to the party’s constitution and
electoral guidelines.
“By the power vested in me and
in line with PDP rules, I hereby declare Jude Ezenwafor our candidate,”
Onwubuya said.
In his acceptance speech,
Ezenwafor framed the PDP’s campaign as a “rescue mission” for Anambra, urging
voters to support the party’s bid to reclaim the state leadership.
“If you support me, the dream
will come true,” he said. “They say PDP is dead, but I will prove them wrong.”
He also announced that all local government and ward chairmen would serve as
automatic campaign coordinators in their areas.
PDP State Chairman Chidi
Chidebe expressed confidence in the party’s resurgence, claiming that many
former members who defected to other parties had returned after encountering
“worse conditions.”
“We are the strongest party in
Anambra,” Chidebe said. “We are heading into the election rejuvenated, united,
and strong, as Anambra now regrets rejecting the PDP. Only the PDP can defeat
the ruling party here.”
Ezenwafor will face incumbent
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and
Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November
election.
The PDP’s primary saw 853
delegates accredited out of 999 listed, with voting conducted via open ballots
despite Ezenwafor running unopposed. Party officials described the exercise as
transparent and in full compliance with electoral regulations.
Anambra’s governorship race is
expected to be closely contested, with the PDP seeking to regain influence in a
state it last governed in 2006.
Post a Comment